Hamas gives peace negotiations 6 months

CAIRO, Egypt - The political leader of Hamas said Saturday that the Islamic militant group is willing to allow negotiations with Israel but warned of a new uprising if talks fail to reach a deal for a Palestinian state within six months.

The comment from Khaled Mashaal was the strongest indication that Hamas might give moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a chance to try negotiating with Israel, but it was also the first time he set a deadline with an explicit threat of new fighting.

There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials in Jerusalem, where government offices were closed for the Jewish Sabbath.

Mashaal also suggested Hamas could accept a "two-state" solution — with a Jewish state in pre-1967 borders and a Palestinian nation in the Gaza Strip and West Bank — though he stopped short of using that phrase or of recognizing Israel.

"We give six months to open real political horizons ... we agreed on the national accord to establish a Palestinian state, with the June 4, 1967, borders," he said, referring to boundaries before Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip in the Six-Day War. "They have to seize this opportunity."

Mashaal warned that if an agreement was not reached within the six-month window, "Hamas will become stronger and the resistance will resume ... and will go on with a third uprising."

Any accord would have to deal with Palestinian demands for control of east Jerusalem as the capital of their state and the right of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to return to homes abandoned in Israel. Israeli leaders staunchly reject both demands.

Discussing efforts for a prisoner swap, Mashaal blamed Israel for the failure to reach a deal for the release of Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Gaza militants in a cross-border raid June 25.

"We are not the reason behind postponing the decision; the postponing of a settlement is due to the other side," Mashaal said, although he did not give any specific snags.

He said Shalit is well. "He's in good health," Mashaal said, adding with a smile, "He sends his regards."

Conflict continued in Gaza, where Israeli troops pressed an offensive against militants who fire rockets at towns in southern Israel. Tank fire killed one militant, and other Israeli fire wounded six Palestinians, including a 12-year-old boy shot in the head outside his house.

The Israeli campaign has not curbed rocket attacks, and a home in Sderot took a direct hit Saturday. No injuries were reported.

Later, a Palestinian faction allied with Hamas, the Popular Resistance Committees, said its militants would stop firing rockets from Gaza at 6 a.m. Sunday if Israel halts military operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel said Friday that it would respond positively only if the Palestinians instituted a total cease-fire.

Mashaal spoke after three days of meetings with Egyptian officials who are mediating in an attempt to get peace talks going between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Hamas leader suggested there was no breakthrough on the two main issues: the formation of a new Palestinian unity government with Hamas' rivals in Fatah and a deal for Israel to free prisoners in return for the release of an Israel soldier held by Hamas since the summer.

Abbas, of Fatah, has been trying to work out a deal with Hamas that would lead to a prisoner swap, a comprehensive cease-fire and the creation of a more moderate government of professionals to replace the current one led by Hamas.

Mashaal said "great strides" had been made in talks on a new Palestinian government but said more time was needed. He stuck to Hamas' resistance to a Cabinet made up of professionals rather than politicians from the two parties — seen as a way to keep Hamas leaders out of power.

"It should be a Palestinian national unity government that represents Palestinian factions ... it should be political government," he said.

While Hamas has opposed a government of technocrats, it has voiced willingness to give Cabinet posts to lesser known members rather than ranking politicians.

Abbas hopes a comprehensive agreement will be the foundation for halting violence, launching peace talks with Israel and lifting punishing international economic sanctions imposed on the Palestinians after Hamas formed its government following an election landslide last January.

A top Abbas adviser, Ahmed Abdel Rahman, said Hamas has to accept a comprehensive deal rather than trying to separately work out a new government, a prisoner swap and an end to the economic embargo.

"Mashaal wanted to separate very connected things," Abdel Rahman said. "We can't separate the issue of the government from the siege or (a prisoner swap). ... It's not our condition, but we are not in an independent state to decide what we want."

The United States and other Western countries are demanding Hamas recognize Israel and renounce violence as part of any national unity government, but Hamas has staunchly rejected those demands.

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh from Hamas, waves to supporters following Muslim Friday prayers at a mosque in Gaza City, Friday, Nov. 24, 2006. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal speaks during a press conference at the Press Syndicate in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday Nov. 25, 2006. Mashaal said Saturday his group was willing to give peace negotiations six months to reach an agreement for a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank, but threatened a new uprising if talks fail. (AP Photo/ Mohamad al Sehety)

Yes, the first "intifada" accomplished soo much for the palestinians. Thousands of innocent civilians and children suicide bombed on buses & in pizza palors and Arafat dead.

Bravo Hamas. Great plan.

pre-1967 borders is a ruse. That will never happen. It is a suicide agreement. Israel knows, Hamas knows it, everybody knows it.

Just a couple of rules here.
1. Israel isnt going anywhere. It isnt disbanding or leaving the country.
2. Israel isnt giving up any more land, They already tried that--it didnt work.
3. Israel wont attack you if you dont attack them.
4, If you send rockets to Israel, Israel will send tanks to you.
5. You can recognise Israel or you cannot recognise Israel as you like, It will still be there when you wake up.

Dont start no crap there wont be no crap.

Hamas is willing to make nice for six months ping. Watching the passing scene sometimes is like attending the theater of the absurd. Can Condi bring peace in our time?

The Israeli Government is out of its mind. I know I keep repeating that mantra, but with each day they prove it again.

They are agreeing to a cease fire during which the "Palestinians" will arm themselves to the teeth. Israel will be unable to respond militarily to stop this arming. All the while, the West, including the Bush Administration, will press for Israel concessions to keep the "peace" alive.

Hamas - with confidence- has already telegraphed that at the end of six months they demand Israel surrender or hostilities will commence again.

Lebanon redux.

It's just unbelievable.

All this if the "Palestinians" don't decide after a couple of days of truce that life is just not worth living without fresh Jewish blood and commence firing for Allah's sake.

The Israeli gov't is like the US gov't.
Those in power are protected, and they just do not give
a whit about the innocents who have been murdered, are being murdered,
and will be murdered by terrorists.
The leaders care about one thing. Themselves.

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